Tag Archives: Safety

Inherently Unsafe: The Hidden Issues Often Overlooked in Research Hazard Analysis

I suspect everyone knows the concept of inherent safety. Use a non-flammable instead of a flammable feed or make sure the system is designed so as to be unable to fail in a hazardous direction. Often, however, I encounter the reverse situation during a safety audit or a hazard analysis and risk assessment, an inherentlyContinue reading “Inherently Unsafe: The Hidden Issues Often Overlooked in Research Hazard Analysis”

Get The Fire Extinguisher! Thoughts on Where to Locate Them for Maximum Safety

While the number of fire extinguishers required in an area is fire code driven, where to place them is primarily up to the designer or owner. Too often, the architect or building owner places them in the optimum location to minimize the quantity with no real thought for their utility in an emergency. Hence, a commonContinue reading “Get The Fire Extinguisher! Thoughts on Where to Locate Them for Maximum Safety”

Where is the Best Place to Put a Flammable Storage Cabinet?

Generally anywhere. However, there are a few places a flammable storage cabinet should not be placed. These include: So that they obstruct an exit door. The flammable storage cabinet should never infringe on the doorway, however minor, nor impede the opening of the door itself. So that they obstruct any fire exit egress. Mandated fire egressContinue reading “Where is the Best Place to Put a Flammable Storage Cabinet?”

Transporting Compressed Gases and Cryogenic Dewars On an Elevator

One hopes that no one is going to try and hoist a compressed gas cylinder on their shoulder and attempt to carry it up or down a flight of stairs to another  floor. Similarly, one hopes no one is going to try and pull a cryogenic dewar up down the stairs to another floor. (AndContinue reading “Transporting Compressed Gases and Cryogenic Dewars On an Elevator”

Scared Safe: The Importance of Human Error when Evaluating Research Operations for Safety

THazard analysis and risk assessment (HARA) of research operations often does not adequately consider the possibility for human error to potentially create a hazard. The problem is that humans can do anything wrong, in any way imaginable (and some not readily imaginable) at any time. Unlike equipment which has common failure modes, human failure modes areContinue reading “Scared Safe: The Importance of Human Error when Evaluating Research Operations for Safety”

“We Are Comfortable with Our Current Safety Procedures”: How Do You Prevent Something You Don’t Recognize?

When I am asked to consult on safety issues or provide safety training for laboratories and pilot plants, I usually suggest starting with a safety audit of the facility or operation to determine what are the areas that require attention. Limited resources, tight funding, other priorities are among the most commonly cited reasons for deferringContinue reading ““We Are Comfortable with Our Current Safety Procedures”: How Do You Prevent Something You Don’t Recognize?”

Laboratories that are not Laboratories

I must get a dozen questions a year about what NFPA 45 Fire Protection for Laboratories covers. In section 1.1.3 NFPA 45 notes that it does not cover the following: (1)* Laboratories for which the following conditions apply: (a) Laboratory units that contain less than or equal to 4 L (1 gal) of flammable or combustible liquidContinue reading “Laboratories that are not Laboratories”

“We Didn’t Think That Through”: Emergency Response in Research Applications

In a normal, non-Covid year I do numerous safety audits of laboratories and research operations, something I also did many times during my 40 year tenure at ExxonMobil Research & Engineering. Almost invariably when I ask about a site’s emergency response plans, I am told they exist, are reviewed periodically, and there is no need toContinue reading ““We Didn’t Think That Through”: Emergency Response in Research Applications”